Hell Hole dam
Hell Hole
Hell Hole is a captivating rockfill dam located in Auburn, California, along the Rubicon River. Built in 1966 and standing at a towering height of 410 feet, this dam serves multiple purposes including irrigation, flood risk reduction, hydroelectric power generation, recreation, and water supply. With a storage capacity of 207,000 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 58,800 cubic feet per second, Hell Hole plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Hell Hole is classified as having a high hazard potential due to its structural height and volume. Despite its age, the dam undergoes regular inspections and is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway to ensure safety during high water events. With a moderate risk assessment score of 3, Hell Hole remains a key asset for water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience will find Hell Hole to be a fascinating example of engineering ingenuity and environmental stewardship. From its impressive height and storage capacity to its multi-purpose functionality and regulatory oversight, this dam serves as a critical infrastructure for managing water supply, flood protection, and renewable energy generation in California. With its strategic location along the Rubicon River and its ongoing risk management measures, Hell Hole stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of a changing climate.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Hell Hole -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackwood C Nr Tahoe City Ca | 87 cfs | → |
| Pilot C Ab Stumpy Meadows Res Ca | 3 cfs | → |
| Ward C At Hwy 89 Nr Tahoe Pines Ca | 53 cfs | → |
| Pilot C Bl Mutton Canyon Nr Georgetown Ca | 2 cfs | → |
| General C Nr Meeks Bay Ca | 16 cfs | → |
| Truckee R A Tahoe City Ca | 352 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hell Hole .
Boat launches
- Mosquito Ridge Rd, California
- Ice House Road El Dorado County
- Dry Lakes Trail El Dorado County
- Junction Boat Ramp Road El Dorado County
- Oxbow Raft Put-In Site
- Poho Ridge El Dorado County
Campgrounds
- Hell Hole
- Hell Hole Campground
- Big Meadows Campground
- Middle Meadows Group Campground
- Upper Hell Hole Campground
- French Meadows Campground
Fishing spots
- French Meadows Reservoir
- Loon Lake
- Buck Island Lake
- Union Valley Reservoir
- Stumpy Meadows Lake
- Maude Lake
Track Hell Hole in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Hell Hole
Where does the data for Hell Hole come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Hell Hole .